Colombia secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 with a game to spare after edging DR Congo 1-0 in their Group K clash on Thursday.
The only goal of the match came from Daniel Munoz as the South American side overcame stubborn resistance from DR Congo throughout the contest.
The victory gives Colombia six points from two matches, guaranteeing their progression to the knockout stage ahead of their final group game against Portugal, who thrashed Uzbekistan 5-0 earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, DR Congo remain on one point and must secure a positive result against Uzbekistan to keep their hopes of reaching the next round alive.
Colombia dominated possession and created the better chances but were repeatedly denied by DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who produced a string of impressive saves to keep out efforts from James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz and Jhon Arias.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 76th minute when Juan Quintero’s pass found Munoz making a run into the penalty area. His shot took a deflection off a defender before finding the back of the net, sealing all three points for Colombia.
